Although he didn’t play for UTSA coach Larry Coker at Miami, former Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Russell Maryland didn’t hesitate when Coker asked him to be a celebrity guest at his second annual golf tournament in San Antonio this summer.
Maryland starred at Miami from 1987-90, playing under Jimmy Johnson and Dennis Erickson before getting selected by the Dallas Cowboys with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1991 NFL draft.
When Coker was promoted to head coach at Miami in 2001, one of his top priorities was making former Hurricanes players feel welcome when they returned to visit.
“I was impressed with Coach Coker,” Maryland said. “Not only in the way he dealt with players and coaches, but with how he treated the alumni. He let us speak to the players about what it means to be a Hurricane. He gave us carte blanche and supported us. This is kind of an appreciation to Coach Coker. I’m here to support Coach Coker now.”
Maryland, who lives in the Dallas area, was among the celebrities who made an appearance at Coker’s golf tournament Monday at The Club at Sonterra. Some of the others on hand were Dallas Cowboys quarterback Stephen McGee, former Oklahoma running back Jacob Gutierrez, ex-Spurs guard Devin Brown, and former Notre Dame quarterback Carlyle Holiday.
Gutierrez (Madison), Brown (West Campus) and Holiday (Roosevelt) all graduated from San Antonio high schools.
About 120 golfers participated in the tournament.
“It’s been great to see everybody again,” said Coker, who made the rounds around the course. “Things have been going well for us this summer.”
UTSA will have a news conference at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday to announce that it has reached an agreement with the Northside Independent School District to have its football workouts at Farris Stadium.
The Roadrunners, who kick off their inaugural season in 2011, will begin practicing when school starts in August. Coker and his staff signed their first recruiting class in February.
UTSA also will announce Tuesday that Bob Wills, founder of the PM Group, has donated $50,000 to the Roadrunners for football scholarships.
The PM Group is a San Antonio-based marketing and advertising agency that recently completed a one-year deal to represent Spurs Sports & Entertainment.
UTSA will compete as an independent in the Football Championship Subdivision, formerly Division I-AA in 2011, but will notify the NCAA in June 2012 that it plans to enter the Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, by 2014.
The Roadrunners, UTSA officials say, will comply with FBS standards during the 2013 season and then will seek full FBS membership and bowl eligibility in 2014.
UTSA will play its home games at the Alamodome. The Roadrunners already have scheduled home-and-home series with eight FBS schools – Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, Colorado State, Houston, Kansas State, Louisiana Tech and Virginia.
Maryland, who won the Outland Trophy as a senior at Miami in 1990, said he thinks San Antonio is more than ready to support UTSA football.
“It’s always baffled me that San Antonio never had an NFL team because I know the fans here love football,” Maryland said. “When I played for the Cowboys and we played preseason games at the Alamodome or scrimmaged the Oilers, it was always packed. I remember thinking there probably would be more than two NFL teams in Texas before long.
“Now that UTSA has started a football program, I believe San Antonians are going to get excited about the team. Here we are in 2010, and I say it’s about time San Antonio had a major-college football team. I’m happy for the city.”
Gutierrez, who lives in Norman, Okla., and coaches at nearby Dibble High school, also predicted a bright future for UTSA football.
“I was excited for San Antonio when I heard UTSA was going to start playing football,” Gutierrez said. “I know how San Antonio likes football, and Coach Coker is a quality guy. I know San Antonio is going to eat it up. UTSA should do well recruiting because San Antonio is an appealing place.”
McGee, who will be back in San Antonio next week for the start of the Cowboys’ training camp at the Alamodome, said he has no doubt the city will embrace UTSA football.
“The potential is unlimited,” said McGee, who played at Texas A&M. “The excitement is going to be there. San Antonio wants a football team. The Alamodome is a heck of a place to play. A lot of schools will want to come to play UTSA to recruit."
